SynthesisNutrients2024
Efficacy of Zinc Supplementation in the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Nutrients, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Efficacy of Zinc Supplementation in the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients · 2024Pooled it
- Self-Reported Changes in Premenstrual and Menstrual Symptoms among Females Taking a Novel Multinutrient Supplement: A Pilot Study.Current developments in nutrition · 2026Article
- Research Progress of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Chronic Pain Management: A Narrative Review.Journal of pain research · 2026Review
- Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic profiling implicates prostaglandin-nitric oxide network dysregulation in uterine microcirculatory impairment in primary dysmenorrhea.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/
objectivesPrimary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a common condition affecting up to 90% of menstruating women, which often results in significant pain without an underlying pathology. Zinc, recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects through inhibiting prostaglandin production and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) upregulation, alleviates menstrual pain by preventing uterine spasms and enhancing microcirculation in the endometrium, suggesting its potential as an alternative treatment for primary dysmenorrhea. The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy and safety of zinc supplementation in reducing pain severity among women with PD and to explore the influence of dosage and treatment duration.
methodsFollowing the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we conducted an extensive search across databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, up to May 2024. Randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of zinc supplementation on pain severity in women with PD were included. Pain severity was evaluated with established tools, such as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB2) tool. Two reviewers independently performed the data extraction, and a random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. Meta-regressions were conducted to examine the influence of zinc dosage and treatment duration on pain reduction. Adverse events were also analyzed.
resultsSix RCTs involving 739 participants met the inclusion criteria. Zinc supplementation significantly reduced pain severity compared to placebo (Hedges's g = -1.541; 95% CI: -2.268 to -0.814;
conclusionsZinc supplementation is an effective and well-tolerated option for reducing pain severity in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Doses as low as 7 mg/day of elemental zinc are sufficient to achieve significant pain relief, with longer durations (≥8 weeks) enhancing efficacy. The favorable safety profile and ease of use support the consideration of zinc supplementation as a practical approach to managing primary dysmenorrhea.
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